Off the Ground: From the Brink of Bankruptcy to a Billion-Dollar Trampoline Empire

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By SM Harrison

Some business books talk about success after the dust has settled. Off the Ground drops you right into the chaos before anything worked. What makes this story matter is its honesty about how fragile momentum can be and how quickly everything can fall apart. Case doesn’t begin with triumph. He begins at the edge of failure, when belief is thin and consequences are real.

Reading this book feels energizing and uncomfortable in equal measure. There is excitement in watching an unlikely idea take shape, but there is also anxiety as setbacks stack up and nothing is guaranteed. The experience pulls you in because it feels lived in. You’re not just watching a company grow. You can feel the weight of decisions you made under stress and the emotional toll of staying in the game when it would have been easier to quit.

The main ideas of the book are about being strong, knowing when to act, taking risks, and the unique mix of being stubborn and open that being an entrepreneur requires. These ideas aren't just about trampolines or new businesses. They speak to anyone who has had to rebuild after a loss, trust an instinct that others doubt, or keep moving when there is no clear roadmap.

Case’s writing is direct and unpolished in a way that works. The structure moves chronologically, but it’s the reflection between milestones that gives the story depth. He explains complex business realities without jargon, often grounding big moments in small details like a conversation, a lease signed too early, or a risk taken without full certainty. The pacing mirrors the business itself, fast when growth hits and slower when reality pushes back.

Several moments stand out, especially the early leap into an untested market and the realization that success brought new problems rather than relief. Those sections highlight Case’s willingness to show the cost of growth, not just the reward.

By the end, Off the Ground leaves a strong impression as a story about building something from almost nothing and surviving the process intact. It’s worth reading not for shortcuts or hype, but for a clear eyed look at what persistence really asks of you.

About the Author 

Case Lawrence

Case is the Founder and former CEO of CircusTrix (now Sky Zone). With over 300 facilities, 5,000 employees and 50 million annual guests, Sky Zone is the largest owner, operator and franchisor of trampoline parks in the world.

Case has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times and other publications as a pioneer in Active Entertainment, and a thought leader for the increasingly relevant "Experiential" segment of the consumer economy. Case has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. In addition to his work at Sky Zone, Case teaches Entrepreneurship at the BYU Marriott School of Business; and serves as Chairman of This is the Place Heritage Park.

Case received a JD from Duke Law School and a BA in American Studies from BYU.